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Several senior officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) have threatened suicide bombings in Europe to avenge the desecrations of the Quran in Sweden and the Netherlands. Addressing a protest rally against the desecration of Quran in European nations, the Taliban officials in Afghanistan's Ghor province warned Europe that Afghans are ready to carry out martyrdom-seeking attacks in the West, according to Afghan media reports and tweets of the Taliban government officials who addressed protesters.
Maulvi Abdul Hayee Zaeem, director of information and culture for Afghanistan's Ghor province
The Protesters "Are Ready To Carry Out Martyrdom Attacks In European Countries"; "We... Are Ready To Conduct Istishhadi [Martyrdom-Seeking] Attacks To Defend Our Islamic Values"
According to a Dari-language report by Kokcha Press, Abdul Qadeer Okasha, head of the police department in Ghor province, demanded that the man who insulted the Quran be handed over to Islamic countries, failing which the interests of the Western countries will be threatened by the people of Afghanistan.[1] Okasha made the statement in his address to protesters. A Dari-language video by Amu TV posted on Facebook quoted Abdul Qadeer Okasha as telling the protesters: "The brutal criminal who committed this act should be handed over to the Islamic world. If it was not done, then the Muslim people of Afghanistan will threaten their interests in the whole world."[2]
Abdul Hayee Zaeem, director of information and culture for Ghor province, also addressed the rally. According to the Kokcha Press report, Abdul Hayee Zaeem threatened direct attacks in Europe, saying that the protesters "are ready to carry out martyrdom attacks in European countries."[3] "We, the people of Ghor province, are ready to conduct Istishhadi [martyrdom-seeking] attacks to defend our Islamic values," the report quoted Abdul Hayee Zaeem as saying.[4] Meanwhile, the report, quoting residents of Mazar Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, said that Taliban government officials forced local residents to shut down their businesses and stage a strike in protest against the desecration of the Quran.[5]
In a January 28, 2023 video report by Amu TV, Abdul Qadeer Okasha participates in the protest rally and reads a brief statement.
"The Lions Of Islam Should Respond To This Evil Act In Such A Way That The Heart Of Stockholm, Sweden, Can Be Shaken Several Times"
On January 23, Abdul Hayee Zaeem wrote on Twitter: "Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish citizen, set the Holy Quran on fire. The lions of Islam should respond to this evil act in such a way that the heart of Stockholm, Sweden, can be shaken several times. These evil acts of unbelievers do not damage Islam; rather they provide an opportunity to the Muslims to teach such a lesson to the unbelievers that they have not witnessed."[6]
Abdul Hayee Zaeem's tweet included photos of the protest rally as well as Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan and the Swedish flag, both of which were crossed out in red. In a January 27 tweet, Abdul Hayee Zaeem wrote: "The people of Ghor, Afghanistan, staged a massive rally today to condemn the evil act of Sweden and urged the Muslims of the world to give strong response to Sweden. We are all ready to carry out Ishtishhadi [martyrdom-seeking] attacks against the enemies of Islam who insulted the sanctities of our religion. We will defend the Quran at the cost of our lives."[7]
Abdul Hayee Zaeem's January 23 tweet
Abdul Hayee Zaeem's January 27 tweet
The rally protesting the desecration of Quran.
[1] KokchaPress.com (Afghanistan), January 28, 2023.
[2] Facebook.com, January 28, 2023.
[3] KokchaPress.com (Afghanistan), January 28, 2023.
[4] KokchaPress.com (Afghanistan), January 28, 2023.
[5] KokchaPress.com (Afghanistan), January 28, 2023.
[6] Twitter.com/MwlwyY, January 23, 2023.
[7] Twitter.com/MwlwyY, January 27, 2023.
